Should I email this professor?

[PsycUndergrad]

I just discovered a professor today who does research in my area. The deadline for applications is December 15th, so while it is getting late to email her, it isn't that last minute. The problem is, she has a detailed list of instructions on her website for applicants, and apparently she expects people to email her in July!? I didn't realize we had matching research interests in July... I had another POI in mind for this school, and he finally emailed me back today to say he wasn't taking students, so I started investigating other professors in the department. Her department bio is outdated and misleading, so I thought she was in a different area of research until now. How can I email her without looking like I've procrastinated, or telling her I didn't know she existed? I don't want to NOT email her because her site doesn't say if she's taking students, and she seems like she prefers applicants to email her. 

Thanks in advance to anyone who bothers to read my neurotic ramblings  

[St0chastic]

Is there any harm in sending her an email? Even if she is a bit miffed that you didn't contact her sooner (frankly, I don't think it's reasonable to expect all applicants to contact POIs in July), at least you'l get a response and have a chance of working with her. Frame the email positively without making any excuses. It might not hurt to be completely upfront and just say that you did not realize how closely your research aligns with her interests until recently and then pivot to saying why you are a good match for her.

To be perfectly honest, I contacted some POIs mere weeks before I applied, and at other places I didn't even bother emailing them in advance. This ended up not making much of a difference in the end. While I would not recommend most people to take this approach, if you are a qualified candidate POIs would be foolish not to accept you simply because you didn't contact them by a particular date.

Edited October 25, 2016 by St0chastic

[Jay's Brain]

Agreed with @St0chastic. There's no harm in emailing her. A great student will be great even if they had asked them in advance or not. Sure, you may lose slight brownie points if this POI is particular about these application protocols, but it will also be of her interest to know that there are ideal candidates who would want to know more about their research and have interest working with them. Worst she can say is no, and that may tell you more about whether she is a good fit to begin with. 

[eternallyephemeral]

This is very strange. I was specifically advised not to contact people in the summer, and that I should wait until the fall. I contacted people around this time, and no one had any issues with it.

If this POI has any other stipulations, just make sure you address those (like if they want your cv or something) and make sure that you have read some of their papers.

There's no harm in trying! To be honest, I didn't even know which field I was applying to in July (I switched around August, and still got in).

[VeroWright]

Thinking of what other people will feel or think about you, is more harmful, then pushing e-mail later.

[PsycUndergrad]

Thanks guys! I ended up emailing her and she sent me an encouraging reply! I kind of knew I should, but the application paranoia clouds my judgement occasionally